U.S. orders tariffs on Chinese solar panels

The ruling is preliminary and would not take effect until later this year.

Posted by Tim Gregorski |August 03, 2012

The U.S. Department of Commerce has ordered tariffs on solar panels imported from China after an investigation concluded that Chinese companies were selling products below cost.

Chinese manufacturers could face tariffs of as much as 31 percent on the panels, which would raise the cost of solar energy in the United States, but also make it easier for U.S.-based manufacturers to sell their products. China accounts for about half of all solar panels sold in the United States.

The ruling is preliminary and would not take effect until later this year. China has also asked the World Trade Organization to block the tariffs. PR